Last year, the Angels made the big offseason splash by signing Albert Pujolsand C.J. Wilson - but the A's were the surprise winners of the AL West.

This year, the Angels again were the big-news team, signing former Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton. And the A's feel just as capable of winning the division again.

"These guys feel good about themselves, and we feel good as well," A's general manager Billy Beanesaid during the team's FanFest at Oracle Arena. "If the script plays out the exact same way as last year, we'll be happy with that."

Outfielder Josh Reddicknoted that the A's pitchers had decent success against both Pujols and Hamilton last season, and that Hamilton remains in the division, but with a different team.

"Expectations don't change. It's just a new crew and a new year," Reddick said. "We've been outcast like we were last year; everybody's throwing us out again. We have the firm belief we can do this again."

"We don't worry about what other teams are doing," new A's outfielder Chris Young said. "I'm sure confidence is high in this clubhouse. We'll just try to keep it rolling."

"We'll figure out a new identity," he said. "I'm confident we can be A's-mazing again."

Crisp said that might include a new dance this season. "I'm going with the 'Pee Wee Herman,' " he suggested, but said the "Bernie" will continue "until someone says, 'We've had enough, my back hurts.' "

Hairy: Crisp and Reddick are in a beard-growing contest that a shaggy Reddick appears to be winning handily. Crisp, however, gets style points for bringing back his "Fro-Co, Co-Fro whatever it is."

Okajima, 37, had a 3.11 ERA in 261 relief appearances over five seasons with Boston. He spent last season with Fukuoka in Japan, putting up an 0.94 ERA in 56 appearances.

The A's also have been looking at Cuban defector Aledmys Diaz; their Cuban outfielder, Yoenis Céspedes, said the front-office folks had asked him for a scouting report and he told them Diaz is a great shortstop, hits and runs well and has some power. "I think he could help this team," Céspedes said.

Briefly: Manager Bob Melvin and his wife, Kelly, are full-time Bay Area residents again after purchasing a home in Berkeley. Melvin, who is from Menlo Park, signed a contract extension through 2016 earlier this month; he had been living in New York. ... The Beane-Hiro Nakajima mutual admiration society continues; on Sunday, Beane said that his new shortstop "has one of those faces that lights up a room." ... Nakajima is already learning phrases from his new teammates. Asked his favorite English word, he responded "For real." Young taught him that. ... Beane said that top draft pick Addison Russelldid not have an invitation to big-league camp in his contract but that he earned one by wowing the team. Russell, who turned 19 last week, will be the youngest player at any major-league camp this spring.